Row over 'net zero' car parking cost option

SHOULD PETROL AND DIESEL CARS PAY MORE TO PARK?

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH people will be asked whether they back the idea of charging petrol and diesel cars more to park in the city. Environment chief Cllr Tom Briars-Delve said the move, introduced in other cities, was an "option" when he championed the council's new Net Zero Action Plan for the next three years.

The plan was endorsed by councillors following a vote at a full council meeting this week, but some Tories and independents spoke out against elements of the plan, led by Cllr Steve Ricketts who called it "outrageous" and said it would make people "colder and poorer".

Cllr Briars-Delve accused Cllr Ricketts of "shoring up climate denialism in this city".

And Council leader Tudor Evans accused the Drake ward independent of being "a Reform apologist" and an "anti-environmentalist". Cllr Ricketts said he supported Net Zero but the move to achieve it was going at too fast a pace and could end up costing citizens money. He said: "We all want to support a good climate plan but this simply isn't it."

The Net Zero Action Plan, which had cross-party backing, sets out Plymouth City Council's proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim to achieve net zero by 2030. It includes commitments to reduce emissions from facilities the council owns and the services it delivers but also makes commitments as to how it will use its influence to help the city move towards net zero.